WHAT IS PRECIS WRITING?
The word precis has been derived from French, meaning “to precis” or “to brief”. In simple, A precis is a short summary of a bigger piece of writing. It keeps the main ideas but uses fewer words. Think of it like a condensed version that captures the most important points without all the extra details.
A good precis should possess the following techniques:
1. Clarity: It should be clear and easy to understand, using simple language to convey the main ideas.
2. Conciseness: Keep it short and to the point. A precis should be much shorter than the original text while retaining its essence.
3. Accuracy: Capture the key points accurately without adding personal opinions or interpretations.
4. Coherence: Organize the ideas logically, maintaining the original flow and structure to ensure they make sense.
5. Paraphrasing: Rewrite the content in your own words while preserving the meaning and main concepts.
6. Elimination of Details: Focus on the most important ideas, leaving out minor details, examples, and supporting information.
7. Objective Tone: Maintain a neutral tone without adding personal biases or emotions.
8. Introduction and Conclusion: Include a brief introduction to set the context and a concise conclusion summarising the main points.
Combining these techniques effectively makes a precis a brief yet comprehensive summary of a larger text.
How to attempt a Precis?
1. Understanding the Text: Read the original text thoroughly to grasp its main ideas, arguments, and structure. Highlight or make notes of the key points.
2. Identify the Thesis or Main Idea: Determine the central theme or argument of the text. This will be the foundation of your precis.
3. Break Down the Text: Divide the original text into smaller sections or paragraphs. Focus on summarizing each section’s main idea rather than every detail.
4. Write a Rough Draft: In your own words, summarize each section or paragraph. Aim to capture the essence of the text while reducing its length significantly.
5. Check for Clarity and Accuracy: Ensure that your precis is clear, concise, and accurately represents the main ideas of the original text. Remove unnecessary details.
6. Review and Edit: Read through your precis to refine sentences, improve coherence, and eliminate redundant words or phrases. Confirm that it maintains the original text’s structure and flow.
7. Check Length: Ensure that your precis is much shorter than the original text while retaining its essence. It should typically be around one-third to one-fourth the length of the original.
8. Finalize: Write your final precis, paying attention to grammar, punctuation, and overall readability.
Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you attempt precis writing, the better you’ll become at capturing the essence of a text succinctly and accurately.